GEI is evaluating new sources of vegetable proteins that could be grown in the cool season areas of the central and northern corn belts. We are evaluating a highland tropical field pea variety showing different maturity genotypes and flower color types; a fava bean (Vicia fava) variety with tolerance to heat and stress; and a high iron field bean variety from Cali, Colombia. We have grown the field pea and fava varieties for 4 seasons and the high iron bean variety for the first time this year.
We have made some progress growing the cultivars. So far, the iron beans seem the easiest to grow. We were surprised to see a fairly normal growth for a tropical bean variety in the temperate zone, but we don’t know very much about the background of this variety. We will plant a larger field next year; we have also decided to test field bean varieties developed by the public research programs in the central corn belt and other areas with breeding programs.
Field beans are currently promoted as a source of vegetable protein that could play an important role in supplying the nutrition needed by the populations in future years. Several companies are currently making large investments to develop replacement products to meet the need of using vegetable proteins from different products. According to a Harvest Plus webinar, one of the companies involved is Plant & Bean in UK, which has a plant-based “meat” production facility with a capacity of 55,000 tons per year. Israel has Redefine Meat creating plant-based cuts of beef through 3D printing. Nestle and McDonalds are both launching plant-based foods in Asia and Scandinavia, respectively.
The main sources utilized are field beans, field peas and favas. Field beans are currently utilized extensively in the food industry as a vegetable source of protein. Field beans are produced commercially in Michigan, Nebraska, Colorado, California, and other northern states. Commercial bean production is very competitive compared to other crops. Bean varieties have been developed and are being produced with modern agricultural techniques and inputs for better yields. I think we need to test and promote this crop in Iowa to diversify crop production and to increase the availability of food products with excellent nutritive profiles.
We found that field peas can grow better and can take heat and dry conditions much better than favas. The favas had a tough season with the heat and dry weather, but there were a few plants that flowered and were pollinated normally. We have grown a second season back-to-back with the peas and the favas. In 2020, we found that the peas can flower and set seed in the second season (August-October), but the favas did not have pollinators available and could not set seed. The peas needed a longer season to dry, and they need to be planted no later than the first week of August in Iowa.
